Mason Galemore
Contributing Writer
[email protected]

Late Murray State professor Robert H. McGaughey, known by many as “Doc,” left more than $103,000 to the University’s journalism and mass communications department in his will. 

He committed the money to the Dr. Robert Howe “Doc” McGaughey III Fund for Excellence as a quasi endowment.

McGaughey passed away in June 2019 at the age of 76. He retired from teaching at Murray State in 1997 but continued to teach part-time until 2010. He also continued to serve as an adviser to prospective students in the JMC department.

Before becoming a professor at Murray State McGaughey served in the United States Army and then went on to obtain his doctoral degree at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

After McGaughey returned to Murray, he eventually became chairman of the JMC department, a position he held for 23 years. 

Bob Lochte, one of those who followed him as chairman, said McGaughey changed the landscape of Murray State’s JMC department.

“Back in the 1970s and ‘80s when Murray State was barely a university, Doc almost single-handedly created a nationally-accredited program in journalism and mass communications with four undergraduate majors, a master’s degree, award-winning campus media and nearly 400 students,” Lochte said. 

JMC department senior instructor Robert Valentine is one of many staff members who taught alongside McGaughey. Valentine said the JMC department is unlike many other departments because it has five majors and two master’s programs, putting it under constant pressure to keep technology updated. 

 “Because people expect to leave these programs and be immediately employable, there is a constant effort to stay abreast of the various professions and promote student internships,” Valentine said.

Murray State Executive Director of Development Tina Bernot said the money will be used to support the department’s programs and overall mission in accordance with University spending guidelines. The department requested $100,000 be used for the principle of the fund and the remaining $3,333.18 be used for current spending.

Along with other professors in the JMC department, Valentine was appreciative of the donation Doc left behind. 

“I thought the gift was the essence of who he was and, because of it, who he is,” Valentine said. “Many of his friends and admirers have already joined his effort to support the work of the department and more will do so in the future. They will do it because it is a worthy effort, of course, but mostly they will do it because of Doc McGaughey. His gift, like the man, evokes the word: legendary.”